Big Cedar Lake Birch VII - A Work in Progress

Today, we are still under a Weather Advisory and this time it is for heavy snow and ice pellets, with the temperature at F(-7C) and the wind chill making it feel like F (-14C). Needless to say the horses are going to spend another day in their stalls with plenty of hay and water.

After doing the barn chores and having breakfast I thought I would go through some of my pen and ink drawings and do some work on one of them.

I chose this one of a birch tree that I had started a number of years ago when we were canoeing on Big Cedar Lake (see posts on 11 August and 11 October 2019).

I knew it needed a number of things changed so I worked in pencil adding shading to the tree trunk, adjusting the branches and putting some more leaves.

I will post this drawing at a later date as more work on it is completed.

Wolf Lake V-VIII -- Four Works in Progress

With it being a nice sunny day we decided to take the canoe and go out on the lake for the day.

As we headed up Highway 28 we were talking about which of the many lakes in the Kawartha Highlands Signature Site Park and decided that we would go on Wolf Lake.

It didn't take long for us to unload the canoe, put our gear into it and head out onto the lake. We paddled up the lake until we came to one of the inlets and I started sketching while Ron got his rod out and cast his line.















Wolf Lake V

I had barely gotten started on my sketch when he caught a nice sized bass, so I had to stop what I was doing and carefully take it off the hook and release it back into the lake.

It wasn't long before we left the inlet and went onto the lake again and headed further up the lake and went to the far side of an island.















Wolf Lake VI

Once again I started on a sketch beginning with a tree stump sticking out of the water just off shore of the island and then, Ron caught a small bass. So, I had to stop and take it off the hook and release it.

I barely had time to pick up my pencil before Ron caught a larger medium sized bass for to me to remove it from the hook and release it.
Before I could clean my hands there was another medium sized bass for me to unhook and release.















Wolf Lake VII

We moved further up the lake and stopped between the shore and a large group of islands and had lunch. Then we turned the canoe around and once again I worked on a sketch while Ron went back to fishing and before long, he caught another medium sized bass and I had to set it free.

We found another inlet and at this one Ron wasn't catching a fish as soon as he cast out the line. I was able to spend some time on my drawing where I put in the island and indicated some of the land on the far side of the lake before he caught another small bass.















Wolf Lake VIII

It wasn't long before we returned to the boat launch and headed were soon heading back home.

I will post each of these drawings again when more work on them has been completed.

Autumn Beauty 1

Today I pulled this painting out that I had framed and decided that it needed a little more work (see posts on 05 November and 04 December 2014 and 22 September 2015).

First, I put some pure white in the sunlit side of the birch trees, followed by adding the dark markings on the trunks and branches of the trees.















From there I added some more brighter oranges and yellows to the leaves of the maples and birch trees.

Lastly, I dotted in a few splashes of cadmium red throughout the painting to tie every thing together.

ACEO - Shades of Spring 1

Today I wanted to finish this painting that I had started a while ago (see posts on 01 March 2017 and 25 March 2018).

I started by mixing a blue grey of French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna and brushed in the shadows onto the left side of the birch tree trunks.

Next, I mixed darks using the shadow colours in different strengths and added a small amount of raw sienna to some of them and added more markings onto the tree trunks and branches to give them shape and definition. 

Lastly, I mixed a green of Antwerp blue and raw sienna and added a tree covered hill in the background and added more grasses.

If you would like more information about ACEO please go to my post on 11 March 2010.

The ACEO shown here is an original watercolour painting using Artist quality Winsor & Newton paint on 140lb. Arches 100% rag, acid free watercolour paper. It is priced at $20.00 and sold unframed.

Back Road Birches - A Work in Progress

Today I was painting with the Lakefield Creative Art Group and the theme for today's painting was birch trees.

On the weekend I was outside and did a number of sketches of the snow covered pines, maples and birches on one of the back roads.

I transferred this drawing from one of my sketches onto a piece of watercolour paper.

Using French ultramarine blue, cobalt blue and alizarin crimson I brushed in the sky and some of the shadows on the snow.

I added raw sienna to the sky colours and put in the background trees.

Using burnt sienna and alizarin crimson I indicated the dark markings on the trees.

With burnt sienna I placed a few rocks at the base of the trees.

I will post this painting at a later date once more of the background has been completed.

Thank you for coming to look at my artwork and I hope you will return often.

Big Cedar Lake VII - A Work in Progress

Today I wanted to work in pen and ink and as I looked through my sketches and chose this one of a birch tree on Big Cedar Lake (see post on 11 August 2019).

From there I worked my way up the right side of the birch tree, adding branches and markings onto the trunk and leaves onto the smaller branches.

Then I worked from the top, down on the left side, adding markings, small branches and leaves leaving the largest branch to do last.

I gradually worked my way up the branch until a friend came over.

I will post this drawing once it is completed.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog and look at the artwork. I hope you will return often.

Rock Shadows - A Work in Progress

Today I am painting with the Buckhorn Tuesday Painting Group.

I thought I would get a little more work done on this piece that I started a number of years ago (see posts on 30 January 2011, 12 March 13 2016 and 14 December 2016).

I started by making a pale green of the background colour using Antwerp blue and raw sienna and put it on the shadowed side of the birch tree trunks.

















Using mixtures of burnt sienna and raw sienna I indicated some of the larger areas of dark markings on the tree trunks.

With a dark of French ultramarine blue, burnt sienna and alizarin crimson I started putting the dark lines onto the bark on the trunk and branches.

I will post this painting at a later date once the birch trees have been completed.

Broken Birch 1

Today it made it up to 45F (7C), with sun in the morning, but in the late afternoon as the temperature started to drop and the wind came up, we received rain, which changed to ice pellets, then snow before clearing just long enough to be able to see the sun set.

I went out in the morning to run a few errands and on the way home along one of the back roads and I stopped and did this little drawing of some birch trees.

They were at the edge of the road with a water filled ditch before them.

I moved the birch trees to the foreground and changed the ditch into a creek and added some smaller trees.

The nice thing was that I returned home before the weather changed and was able to enjoy the sunset.

ACEO - The Road Home 3

Today I wanted to work on this painting that I had started a couple of years ago (see posts on 25 November 2017 and 23 February 2018).

I started in the background and painted the buildings on the distant hill.

From there I used mixtures of cadmium red and cadmium yellow and applied the maple leaves on the trees with a sponge.

Next I painted in the three birch trees using burnt sienna and raw sienna on some areas of the trunks, followed by adding the dark markings on the tree with a mixture of French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna.

With washes of burnt sienna I painted in the road followed by a wash of the blue in some areas for the shadows.















Using various mixtures of French ultramarine blue, Antwerp blue, raw sienna, new gamboge and aureolin I painted in the grasses and growies  on the land on both sides of the road.

Lastly, I used lemon yellow and put on the birch tree leaves and scattered a few fallen leaves onto the road

If you would like more information about ACEO please go to my post on 11 March 2010.

The ACEO shown here is an original watercolour painting using Artist quality Winsor & Newton paint on 140lb. Arches 100% rag, acid free watercolour paper. It is priced at $20.00 and sold unframed.

Autumn Rapids

Today I saw my first Robin on the front lawn; although I have seen them a number of them at the bottom of the front field for almost a month.

I thought that I would work with acrylic paint today and pulled out this painting that I had started quite some time ago (see posts on 11 October 2010 and 21 February 2017).

The mass of trees in the distance was just too solid a colour and I decided to add a few more trees into the background.















Using ultramarine blue, burnt sienna and raw sienna I added a few trees into the background between the maple trees on the right side of the painting as well as a few dark colours into the background between the maples and the birches..

This original 16" x 20” acrylic painting when framed will be available for $425.00.

Thank you for coming to look at my artwork.

Cabin Memories 2 and 3

Today I was at KAGS sitting the On the Move exhibition and while I was there I thought I would do a couple of drawings to pass the time in between visitors.

I thought for a change I would draw some buildings set into a landscape, at the edge of a clearing or in a sheltered area at the edge of a forest.















Cabin Memories 2

For my first drawing I started by putting in a large building on the right side of the paper and then added a few large trees in behind.

It was at this point that I changed the building into an abandoned, run down  building.

On the left side I put a fence in the distance as well as a fence that was falling down, running out from the left side of the building.















Cabin Memories 3

On my second drawing I put the building a little further back and on the right side of the paper and set it at the edge of a forest.

Next I put in a few birch trees on the left side of the drawing.

After looking at both drawings I thought it would be nice to have them both as night scenes and added a full moon into the sky on the left side.

ACEO - Winter Creek 2

Today I wanted to complete this little painting that I started a couple of years ago (see posts on 15 September 2016, 17 January and 11 July 2017).

With a pale mixture of French ultramarine blue and cobalt blue I brushed in some shadows on the snow covered fields.

I darkened the mixture and added some ripples into the water on the creek.

Next I added burnt sienna to the darker blue colour and put in the tree branches and dark spots onto the birch tree on the left side of the painting.















Using various shades of green made from French ultramarine blue, raw sienna and new gamboge I painted in the various clumps of trees growing in the fields.

Lastly I added the various grasses and growies throughout the painting using mixtures of burnt sienna, raw sienna, new gamboge and aureolin.

If you would like more information about ACEO please go to my post on 11 March 2010.

The ACEO shown here is an original watercolour painting using Artist quality Winsor & Newton paint on 140lb. Arches 100% rag, acid free watercolour paper. It is priced at $20.00 and sold unframed.

The Old Outhouse 1 and Fallen Birch 1

We had a very interesting day at the Knoepfli Inn which started early in the morning, around 3a.m. when one of the members in the group woke me to see if I would take her to the hospital as she was having an allergic reaction to her medication.

Together Norma and I got her safely to the West Parry Sound Health Centre and stayed with her until about 11a.m. they decided to keep her overnight for observation and more testing.

After getting a list of the things she would like us to bring to her for her overnight stay when we return in the evening, we left and headed back to the Inn to arrive in time for lunch.

The Old Outhouse 1

After lunch, the sun decided to come out and I headed down the trail behind our cabin heading to the Magnetawan River. I stopped along the way to do a sketch of the old outhouse near cabins 6 and 7.

Then I continued down the trail to the Magnetawan River.














Fallen Birch 1

At the beach near fire pit, I did a sketch of one of the big birch tree that had fallen across the path
that runs beside the river, making it difficult to continue along the trail.

I decided that I would do a sketch of the fallen birch that blocked the trail.

I will post each of these sketches at a later date as more work on them is completed.

Selwyn Beach VII and VIII

Today was another bright and sunny day with a nice breeze, although a little cooler than yesterday at 63F (17C).

After all the work we did to clear most of the debris from the windstorm we decided to go to Selwyn Beach for a picnic. While the others were looking for "treasure" with their metal detectors I sketched the south end of the beach.

Most of the rocks at the end of the beach were underwater.

The only thing showing above the water was the top half of the post where during the summer one end of the rope is tied to mark the south edge of the beach's swimming area ends and goes the other end of the rope goes through the water across to a dead weight mooring at the north end of the beach.

Selwyn Beach VII

My first drawing was of the shoreline on the east side of Chemong Lake facing south down the lake. I started with the edge of the water on the beach and continued where the land juts out into the lake.

I added in the main trees on the shore first, followed by the grasses, growies and smaller bushes.

Lastly, I put in the horizon line and added the trees on the distant shoreline.















Selwyn Beach VIII

For my next drawing, I thought I would start with the post at the end of the submerged rocks and work my way back to where my first drawing ended.

Once the post was drawn in, I followed the path through the water first to a clump of bushes, then the top of a few rocks, followed by a small bent cedar tree, partially submerged by the high water of the lake and then, I a few more tops of rocks with some small, partially submerged bushes.

Lastly, I put in the horizon line, added trees onto the distant shoreline, a closer island and a few cottages and boat houses on the west side of the lake.

I will probably ink in both of these drawings in at a later date.

Shades of Spring 1 - A Work in Progress

My Grackles have arrived this morning and I wanted to do a little more work on this painting of springtime that I had started last year (see post on 01 March 2017).

First I lightly defined the outline of the main birch trees with a pencil.

With various combinations of burnt sienna, raw sienna and French ultramarine blue I put in the markings on the trunks of the trees.

Using a mix of Antwerp blue and raw sienna I indicated some grass into the foreground and a slight rise of ground behind the birches.

I will post this painting at a later date once the birch trees have been completed.

The Road Home 3 - A Work in Progress

Today is going to be an interesting day weather wise. We are under a Meteorological Alert with a freezing rain warning for this morning and the freezing rain to change to rain later in the day as the temperature makes it to 43F (6C).

I made sure I filled the feeders and put plenty of cracked corn on the ground as the red winged blackbirds have arrived from the south, and it helps to have them well fed to survive the freezing rain, just in case it doesn't change to rain later.















I started by putting in the sky using French ultramarine blue with just a touch of burnt sienna to grey it slightly; being careful to leave areas of white paper for the clouds.

Next I added a little bit of raw sienna to the sky colour for a yellow green and put in the distant field. I then added in a little more blue to darken the green and painted in the pine trees.

I added a little bit of burnt sienna to the green to create a dark for some of the maple tree trunks and dead pine trees.

I will post this painting at a later date once more work on it has been completed.

Barn IX

The nice thing about today is that at least the severe cold is over for now and all I had was a few snow flurries as I went to Extendicare in Peterborough to take down my exhibit.

When I returned home I decided to work on this drawing That I have been working on over a number of years (see posts on 28 September 2013, 15 May 2016, 06 April, 20 August and 09 October 2017).

First I put in the large maple tree in front of the hay barn, followed by the hill and the fence line behind the barn.














Next I worked on the hay barn, starting with the tin roof and followed by the barn boards on the building.

This was followed by putting in the large round hay bales being stored in the barn.

Lastly, I added the birch trees to the left of the hay barn and put in the grasses and growies in front of them and in front of the hay barn.

This original 5-1/4" x 9” pen and ink drawing when matted and shrink wrapped will be available for $45.00.

The Road Home 3

Today is overcast; with a mild temperature of 45F (7C) and showers throughout the day are in the forecast.

On the way home I was on one of the back roads and came across one of the long driveway leading up to a farmhouse off in the distance. I stopped the car and did this little drawing of the driveway leading to the house.















What I liked about this scene were the three birch trees at the side of the road and how their white bark and black markings were outlined against the cloudy sky and also how the road disappeared into nothing only to reappear further in the distance.

This drawing could be developed into a larger painting at a later date.

Barn VII and Barn IX - Two Works in Progress

Today I felt like working on barns, so I pulled out this barn first that I started a while ago (see posts on 28 September 2013 and 06 November 2014).

I put in the trees on the background hills behind the barn and then started on some of the tree branches on the front of the barn.

I will post this barn at a later date once more work on it has been completed.









Barn VII

The next barn I have worked on a number of times over the years (see posts on 28 September 2013, 15 May 2016, 06 April and 20 August 2017).

I worked on the smaller birches on the right side of the drawing and then worked on the two very large birches.















Barn IX

Next I put in some of the grasses and growies in the front of the drawing. I will post this piece at a later date as more work on it is completed.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog and enjoy the artwork.

Birch Tree Trunks I

While at the Knoepfli Inn in Magnetawan earlier this week, a number of us worked on drawings and paintings of the birch trees by Cabin 5.

I had the chance to finish most of this drawing while we were there that I had started a while ago (see posts on 11 June 2015, 01 January and 13 May 2017).

Today I added a few more details to the birch trees to complete the picture.

This original 9" x 12" pen and ink drawing when matted and shrink wrapped will be available for $50.00.